Inside Siaya Deputy Governor’s Office: Sh 1m chair, Sh 567k bookshelf
Embattled Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol was put to task to explain how Sh 18 million was spent in refurbishing his office and purchasing new furniture once they were sworn into office.
This turned out to be the focus of an ad hoc committee sitting that is investigating grounds for his impeachment.
In documents tabled before the committee, it was discovered that the vast sum of money was spent after the Deputy Governor allegedly bullied, threatened and humiliated several county government officials to do his bidding, including the favoring of certain suppliers.
Below is a list of some of the items purchased and the work done in his office:
- Sh 1,120,000 was spent on purchasing an executive orthopedic chair
- Sh 336,700 for a presidential mahogany desk
- Sh 567,700 for a bookshelf cabinet
- Sh 756,700 for five pieces of curved coffee tables with accompanying stols
- Sh 238,840 for an executive orthopedic desk chair back and fully spring seat
- Sh 178,200 for a mahogany in and out office tray
- Sh 254,800 for executive custom made round tables finished in two packs
- Sh 2,844,000 for 12 executive high back orthopedic desk black leather chairs
- Sh 910,00 for a custom made seven seater executive curved sofa
- Sh 1,120,000 for a Priya executive orthopedic desk chair and fully spring seat
- Sh 1,052,200 for a six meters conference table
- Sh 168,000 for Priya executive black, fully spring visitor seats
- Sh 211,400 for a grooved coffee table
- Sh 330,000 for an executive custom made desk and fully spring seat
The furniture cost Sh 11,366,213 million and was part of the Sh 18 million allocated to refurbish and furnish William Oduol’s office.
Acting Chief Finance Officer Jack Odinga told the committee that he was bullied, threatened and humiliated by the Deputy Governor to favor certain suppliers, therefore implicating him in alleged misappropriation of funds.
However, through his lawyers, William Oduol denied the accusations of corruption, bullying staff and intimidating the finance and procurement officers. He also claimed there had been a typo in the cost of his seat, saying that the price had been for three chairs, not one.
Deputy Governor William Oduol’s impeachment comes in the wake of his ongoing fight with Siaya Governor James Orengo. In a prior interview with Spice FM, the Deputy Governor accused the Governor of colluding with junior staff to steal millions of shillings a day. He alleged that so far, he had noted up to Sh 100 million had been withdrawn by junior employees who were being used by their superiors to take the money.
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